Turning Waste into Sustainable Opportunity
The BioComp_2.0 project was born with a clear mission: to transform an environmental challenge into a valuable resource. By harnessing the potential of water hyacinth, an invasive species threatening Portuguese ecosystems together with agricultural, forestry, and agro-industrial by-products, the initiative developed innovative solutions for sustainable fertilizer production.
This co-promoted R&D project brought together researchers and experts in agriculture and sustainability, including “Colina Generosa” company and academic partners such as the School of Agriculture of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra and the Polytechnic University of Bragança.
Key achievements include:
- Efficient control of the invasive species;
- Development of high-value compost products;
- Optimization of underused raw material blends;
- And the creation of an integrated circular economy model for the Coimbra region.
Building on the success of BioComp_2.0, the BioComp_3.0 project takes this vision to the next level. The new phase focuses on the industrial-scale valorization of water hyacinth waste, the development of digital decision-support tools, and the implementation of a traceability system for compost production, strengthening the commitment to circular economy principles and agricultural sustainability.
These projects contribute to the development of scientific knowledge and innovative solutions in the fields of organic material valorization, composting techniques, and circular economy, addressing community needs in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental science, key areas for UNIgreen’s green innovation strategies.
